The Magic Roundabout (1964– )
"Le manège enchanté" (original title)

Creator:

Serge Danot

Stars:

Jacques Bodoin, Serge Danot, Micheline Dax

Cast

Credited cast:
Jacques Bodoin	...	Pollux (voice)
Serge Danot	...	Ambroise (voice)
Micheline Dax	...	Azalée (voice)
Bernard Haller	...	Pollux (voice)
Christian Riehl	...	Pollux (voice)
Eric Thompson	...	Narrator (voice)

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

puppet

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Genres:

Family | Animation

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Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

1964 (France)

Also Known As:

Das Zauberkarussell

Company Credits

Production Co:

Danot Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

5 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The programme started life as a French children's TV series "Le Manège Enchanté" (The Magic Roundabout). Dougal the Dog was named Pollux in the original French version and spoke French with a strong English accent. The animation was done by Ivor Wood who later went on to animate The Herbs, The Wombles, _"Paddington" (1975)_ and Postman Pat. Eric Thompson was asked to narrate a translation of the French script, but chose instead to discard the French script and devise his own stories, based purely on what was happening on-screen.

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Connections

Referenced in Bill Bailey: Bewilderness (2001)

User Reviews

The animation is wonderfully unique but it is Thompson's delivery that makes it so enjoyable

In the areas around a magic roundabout live Dougal, a sugar loving, rather pompous dog; Florence, his owner; Brian, a snail; Ermintrude, a cow; Dylan, a lazy and trippy rabbit and Zeebedee, a, well, "thing" with a spring instead of legs. Each episode this group have all manner of things happen around them – perhaps too small and unimportant to call them "adventures" but they are definitely interesting nonetheless.

Having spent my money and time watching the CGI film version, I thought I should just write some thoughts on the original. Like many people, it is hard to be concise about the original series because I never saw it when it first came out in the late sixties and instead joined it in the 1980's when it had already gained cult status; also now I have to watch it through the fog of childhood memories. However, watching it now it is clear why it engaged so many and why it continues to be a wonderful little curiosity that so many adults continue to enjoy when they chance upon it. The animation is part of it; it feels consistently otherworldly and Wood has created a simple but interesting set of characters and an environment that matches the strangely witty tone given to the material.

I refer to the tone but it should be remembered that the stories us in the UK see bare little in common with those in France as Eric Thompson chose to deliver his own stories, based on what he could see happening on the screen. It is he who deserves credit for creating this lasting cult appeal because not only are his stories nicely askew and out of the ordinary but he also has such a dry and humorous delivery that it is a pleasure to listen to. Modern kids will likely prefer the bright colours, loud noises and action of the 2005 film but for me, and many other adults, the simple animation, Thompson narration and strange otherworldly feel to the original series will always be preferred viewing.